In this article, I am going to address a very difficult subject of great emotional depth, and that is the meaning of God’s anger and the nature of His punishments. My reason for addressing this subject is that many dear souls are deeply troubled and burdened by the Bible passages which describe the wrath and justice of God, and I believe that there is need for a conscientious, intelligent and intuitive explanation to this problem.
It does indeed seem contradictory to our human minds and hearts to read in the Bible that God is full of mercy and love, and yet to read that He is angry with the wicked and punishes them. How can a God so loving and kind and good have the emotional response of anger, and how could He punish with terrible judgments the creatures that He has created and whom He loves more than His own life? Many of us have been emotionally paralyzed and tormented by the thought that God is not truly “slow to anger,” but instead actuated by a wicked, passionate temper, and that He is just looking for an excuse to hurt and destroy us. This view of God has colored the religious experience of many a Christian, filling the soul with dread and discouragement.
In seeking an answer to this problem, I believe we must be very candid about the words of the Bible; otherwise we will never find what it teaches. Jesus said that all things are possible to him that believes, and that includes finding an answer to our psychological turmoil. We must believe that God is what He has claimed to be–“Jehovah, Jehovah God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Exodus 34:6-7. And we also must also believe that His word is true. If we begin upon the foundation of God’s character of love and goodness, and the truthfulness of His word, we will surely find an answer to our perplexity regarding His wrath and punishments.
The following quote will further illustrate the proper way to go about our search:
“The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed. Christ has given the promise: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” John 7:17. If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error.” Ellen White, The Great Controversy, The Scriptures a Safeguard
And here is a warning in regard to the improper way of looking for answers:
“That which (a certain teacher) calls light is apparently harmless; it does not look as though anyone could be injured by it. But, brethren, it is Satan’s device, his entering wedge. This has been tried again and again. One accepts some new and original idea which does not seem to conflict with the truth. He talks of it and dwells upon it until it seems to him to be clothed with beauty and importance, for Satan has power to give this false appearance. At last it becomes the all-absorbing theme, the one great point around which everything centers; and the truth is uprooted from the heart.” Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, page 292
And so, in order to discover the truth about this mysterious part of God’s character, let us turn to His word and see what it has to say. We will let the Bible speak for itself on this matter.
The Wrath of Man
I believe that one very important part of the puzzle is to make a distinction between the emotion that we humans typically call anger and the emotion that God feels in response to injustice and cruelty, which is also termed anger, wrath or indignation. The Bible has much to say condemning the anger which springs from self-interest, human passion and annoyance. This is not the kind of anger that God has.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
The phrase “wrath of man” indicates that there is a distinction between that wrath which is part of sinful human nature and the wrath which is part of the holy character of God.
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: to burn with anger surely leads to evildoing.” Psalms 37:8
“You have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” Matthew 5:21-22
The story of Jonah has a very interesting point to make about the comparison of the character of God and man. When Jonah did not see his prophecy fulfilled and the threatened judgment was mercifully turned away from Ninevah, Jonah reacted in unholy anger. His anger was based on self-interest; he feared that people would think him a fool and a false prophet. If only God wasn’t so merciful, he wouldn’t have to be humiliated like this! And he became even more angry when the plant which was his shield from the burning sun withered away. Jonah was all about himself, and very angry at his own misfortune. Yet God was no longer angry, because Ninevah had repented. Yes, He had been indignant with the city for their acts of cruelty and injustice, but now that He saw a change of heart He was happy to spare their lives! God showed that He values human life far more highly than Jonah did. He chided Jonah for showing that his own dignity and comfort were more important to him than the lives of many thousands of people. Quite a contrast is shown to exist between the anger of man and the anger of God!
Here’s how the Bible describes it:
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said … for I knew that You are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and that You relent from sending destruction. …Then said Jehovah, do you well to be angry?… And God said to Jonah, do you well to be angry for the gourd? … Then said Jehovah, you have had pity on the gourd, for the which you have not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in the night, and perished in a night: and should not I spare Ninevah, that great city, wherein are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:1-2, 4, 9-11
Notice that Jonah says God is “slow to anger.” In other words, God indeed has an emotional response to sin, but it comes slowly. He is not arbitrary or impulsive in His anger; the wrath of God is based firmly upon principle, and is quickly turned away when He sees a change occur.
Righteous Indignation
Definition of indignation: anger provoked by injustice.
Here we will see some Bible examples of righteous indignation; in other words, a holy anger which is a response to injustice and cruelty. This is the kind of anger that God has, and those who serve Him experience this emotion as well.
“Surely You will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, you bloody men. For they speak against You wickedly, and Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate You? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:19-24
Notice that immediately after describing his anger against sin, the writer then appeals to God to judge his motives! Therefore the anger described here must be a holy grievance against sinful deeds; it is what we call righteous indignation.
“And in that day you shall say, O Jehovah, I will praise You: though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You have comforted me.” Isaiah 12:1
“God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” Psalms 7:11
“Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah’s anger come upon you. Seek Jehovah, all you meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be you shall be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.” Zephaniah 2:2-3
“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish from the way…” Psalm 2:12
Anger is part of the holy character of God; yet notice that in most of the Bible passages that mention God’s anger, the possibility of mercy is also presented. Therefore we must consider that God’s holy wrath is not opposed to His character of love, but must be understood in the context of that love.
One way to understand this is to contemplate what it means to be a parent. God is our Father, and His way of dealing with us is reflected in the relationship of an earthly parent to his or her child. Even a wise and godly parent feels angry when their child disobeys them, because a parent’s love for their child leads them to feel a stern displeasure with all behaviors that prove destructive to the child’s own good and happiness. The parent knows that the rules they have created will prevent great harm and suffering if obeyed, and when these are overlooked, the child has done himself a great injustice. This causes the parent to feel a displeasure that is based upon firm principles, and which is quickly dissipated once the child repents of his or her disobedience. This anger is so blended with disappointment, sadness and desire for reconciliation, that it is difficult to distinguish between these several emotions. Thus, the anger of a loving parent is a sanctified emotion; a logical and normal reaction to destructive behaviors. We can recognize this kind of experience when Christ wept over Jerusalem just before His death. He knew that her fate was about to be sealed on account of her sins, and He was angry with those who had rejected the eternal life He came to give them, yet His anger was saturated with tears and longing—so different from the kind of anger that springs from mere human passion!
Yet some parents have marred this illustration by their unsanctified tempers. Many have allowed anger to be manifested as a prominent trait in their character, and have been quickly and easily provoked. Many have treated their children in such a way as God never treats His children—passionate, unkind, unfair, and deeply self-interested. It is no wonder then that there are so many adults who have a terrible time understanding how a loving God could have anger as a character trait. It is only by the Bible examples and descriptions that we can discern a very real difference between the wrath of man and that of a holy God.
And how would any parent feel to see their beloved child terribly abused at the hands of another? It would not be acceptable for any loving father or mother to feel anything short of indignation and a stern sense of justice under such circumstances. In this way we can also recognize the anger which God feels over the abuse of His children.
God does not want anyone to be subject to wrath and punishment for their sins. This is why He has provided so many warnings in His word. He is very pleased to relent of His anger toward sin and to allow judgment to be overruled for the sake of mercy. “Mercy rejoices against judgment.” James 2:13. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9.
However, there comes a day when every opportunity for repentance has passed, and our loving Father wants us to know in advance that there will be grave results for those who do not repent:
“And said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:16
Here are some more quotes regarding the anger that is a part of God’s character:
“God is angry with those who pursue a course to make the world hate them. If a Christian is hated because of his good works, and for following Christ, he will have a reward. But if he is hated because he does not take a course to be loved, hated because of his uncultivated manners, and because he makes the truth a matter of quarrel with his neighbors, and because he has taken a course to make the Sabbath as annoying as possible to them, he is a stumbling-block to sinners, a reproach to the sacred truth, and unless he repents it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and he cast into the sea.” Maranatha 158
“Heaven stands indignant at the neglect shown to the souls of men. Would we know how Christ regards it? How would a father and mother feel, did they know that their child, lost in the cold and the snow, had been passed by, and left to perish, by those who might have saved it? Would they not be terribly grieved, wildly indignant? Would they not denounce those murderers with wrath hot as their tears, intense as their love? The sufferings of every man are the sufferings of God’s child, and those who reach out no helping hand to their perishing fellow beings provoke His righteous anger. This is the wrath of the Lamb.” Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, Go Teach All Nations
“The breaking of the tables of stone was but a representation of the fact that Israel had broken the covenant which they had so recently made with God. It is a righteous indignation against sin, which springs from zeal for the glory of God, not that anger prompted by self-love or wounded ambition, which is referred to in the scripture “Be ye angry, and sin not.” Such was the anger of Moses.” The Review and Herald, February 18, 1890
“Christ’s indignation was directed against the hypocrisy, the gross sins, by which men were destroying their own souls, deceiving the people and dishonoring God. In the specious deceptive reasoning of the priests and rulers He discerned the working of satanic agencies. Keen and searching had been His denunciation of sin, but He spoke no words of retaliation. He had a holy wrath against the prince of darkness, but He manifested no irritated temper. So the Christian who lives in harmony with God, possessing the sweet attributes of love and mercy, will feel a righteous indignation against sin; but he will not be roused by passion to revile those who revile him. Even in meeting those who are moved by a power from beneath to maintain falsehood, in Christ he will still preserve calmness and self-possession.” The Desire of Ages, page 619-620
“It is true there is an indignation that is justifiable, even in the followers of Christ. When they see that God is dishonored, and His service brought into disrepute, when they see the innocent oppressed, a righteous indignation stirs the soul. Such anger, born of sensitive morals, is not a sin. But those who at any supposed provocation feel at liberty to indulge anger or resentment are opening the heart to Satan. Bitterness and animosity must be banished from the soul if we would be in harmony with heaven.” Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, The Sermon on the Mount
“Christians may and should feel a holy indignation against the lightness and the folly of those who love not God.” Ellen White, Lift Him Up, May 12
“With searching glance, Christ takes in the scene before Him as He stands upon the steps of the temple court. … As He beholds the scene, indignation, authority, and power are expressed in His countenance. … With a zeal and severity He has never before manifested, He overthrows the tables of the money-changers. … Jesus does not smite them with the whip of cords, but in His hand that simple scourge seems terrible as a flaming sword.” Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, In His Temple
“The Saviour spoke no words of retaliation for the abuse he had received at the hands of his enemies. No unholy passion stirred that divine soul; but his indignation was directed against the hypocrites whose gross sins were an abomination in the sight of God. The conduct of Christ upon this occasion reveals the fact that the Christian can dwell in perfect harmony with God, possess all the sweet attributes of love and mercy, yet feel a righteous indignation against aggravating sin.” Ellen White, The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 3, page 68
“When the transforming grace of Christ is upon the heart, a righteous indignation will take possession of the soul because the sinner has so long neglected the great salvation that God has provided for him.” Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, November 16, 1893
Wrath Combined with Mercy
Many times God has turned away His judgments from those who deserved to be punished, because He loves the sinner and prefers to show mercy. God only punishes those who choose punishment rather than repentance.
“Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?” Psalm 77:9
This is a rhetorical question; the implied answer is no, for we are told in other places that God’s mercy endures forever and that His character is gracious and long-suffering.
“I will not execute the fierceness of My anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you…” Hosea 11:9
“Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” Jonah 3:9
“For Jehovah shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants, when He sees that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.” Deuteronomy 32:36
“But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again.” Psalm 78:38-39
Does God Take Revenge?
Another aspect of God’s displeasure with sin is His vengeance. In other words, when injustice and cruelty is done to His children, God shows His displeasure through judgments and punishments.
“Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? … God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?” Romans 3:5-6
“And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” Luke 18:8
“That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” I Thessalonians 4:6
“Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
“God is jealous, and Jehovah takes revenge; Jehovah takes revenge, and is furious; Jehovah will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: Jehovah has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:2-3
“See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand. … If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to My enemies, and will reward them that hate Me. … Rejoice, O you nations, with His people: for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful unto His land, and to His people.” Deuteronomy 32:39-43
Does God Ever Destroy Man?
Another subject to consider is whether or not God ever destroys man. Some individuals have asserted that it is contrary to His holy character to punish or destroy His creatures. However, the Bible is our source of information about the character and actions of God. What does the Bible say about this question?
“There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judges another?” James 4:12
“Jehovah preserves all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy.” Psalm 145:20
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” I Corinthians 3:17
“And I say unto you my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: fear Him, which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear Him.” Luke 12:4-5
Now, Jesus did not directly state whether He was referring to His Father or to Satan in this passage, but I’m sure we can agree that it would seem out of character for Jesus to direct us to fear Satan. Therefore it is apparent that He is referring to God as the One who “after He has killed has power to cast into hell.”
“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished…” II Peter 2:9
“Wherefore does a living man compain, a man for the punishment of his sins?” Hosea 3:39
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you: and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” II Thessalonians 1:6-9
“And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:9,10
And so we see in the above passages that the Bible seems to indicate that God does at times punish and destroy the wicked. More examples include the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the death of the firstborn in Egypt. Some individuals have asserted that all such actions are accomplished indirectly, by means of Satan and his evil angels, but it seems more consistent to say that God sometimes allows evil to work, and other times executes judgment by His own power. This is apparent because the above passages seem to clearly suggest the direct action of God, and also because we have examples in the Bible of God’s holy angels being sent to destroy the wicked. Some of these examples include the destroying angel sent to Egypt to slay the firstborn, the angels sent to rain down fire and brimstone upon Sodom, and the angel sent to punish Israel for the sin of David. Also, God many times affirmed the need for a death penalty in the laws given to ancient Israel, which we will discuss shortly. If God commanded His people to put to death certain criminals, it cannot be an unrighteous act. In the most respectful way, I submit that here is one place where we need to be careful not to take the word of God to mean something which cannot be ascertained by a simple and honest reading of its statements. It would be more permissible for us to misunderstand God’s actions than to possibly distort the obvious meaning of His statements.
Here are some more quotes relating to this subject:
“A single angel destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians and filled the land with mourning. When David offended against God by numbering the people, one angel caused that terrible destruction by which his sin was punished. The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands, will be exercised by evil angels when He permits.” Ellen White, The Great Controversy, The Time of Trouble
“They do not believe a merciful God who made men will consume them with fire because they do not believe the warnings given. This, they reason, is not in accordance with God….
God’s love is represented in our day as being of such a character as would forbid His destroying the sinner. Men reason from their own low standard of right and justice. “Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself” (Psalm 50:21). They measure God by themselves. They reason as to how they would act under the circumstances and decide God would do as they imagine they would do. God’s goodness and long forbearance, His patience and mercy exercised to His subjects, will not hinder Him from punishing the sinner who refused to be obedient to His requirements. It is not for a man—a criminal against God’s holy law, pardoned only through the great sacrifice He made in giving His Son to die for the guilty because His law was changeless—to dictate to God. After all this effort on the part of God to preserve the sacred and exalted character of His law, if men, through the sophistry of the devil, turn the mercy and condescension of God into a curse, they must suffer the penalty. Because Christ died they consider they have liberty to transgress God’s holy law that condemns the transgressor, and would complain of its strictness and its penalty as severe and unlike God. They are uttering the words Satan utters to millions, to quiet their conscience in rebellion against God.
In no kingdom or government is it left to the lawbreakers to say what punishment is to be executed against those who have broken the law. All we have, all the bounties of His grace which we possess, we owe to God. The aggravating character of sin against such a God cannot be estimated any more than the heavens can be measured with a span. God is a moral governor as well as a Father. He is the Lawgiver. He makes and executes His laws. Law that has no penalty is of no force.
The plea may be made that a loving Father would not see His children suffering the punishment of God by fire while He had the power to relieve them. But God would, for the good of His subjects and for their safety, punish the transgressor. God does not work on the plan of man. He can do infinite justice that man has no right to do before his fellow man. Noah would have displeased God to have drowned one of the scoffers and mockers that harassed him, but God drowned the vast world. Lot would have had no right to inflict punishment on his sons-in-law, but God would do it in strict justice.” Ellen White, Manuscript Releases Volume 12, page 207-209
“God’s judgments will be visited upon those who are seeking to oppress and destroy His people. His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but their punishment is nonetheless certain and terrible because it is long delayed. “The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21. To our merciful God the act of punishment is a strange act. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” Ezekiel 33:11. The Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, … forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” Yet He will “by no means clear the guilty.” “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” Exodus 34:6, 7; Nahum 1:3. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law. The severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by the Lord’s reluctance to execute justice. The nation with which He bears long, and which He will not smite until it has filled up the measure of its iniquity in God’s account, will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy. When Christ ceases His intercession in the sanctuary, the unmingled wrath threatened against those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark (Revelation 14:9, 10), will be poured out.” Ellen White, The Great Controversy, page 627
How God Works
What are some examples of how God relates to the wicked? What principles can we ascertain about His workings from Bible stories?
“Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: will You also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from You to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from You: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:24-25
Here, Abraham describes the principles of righteous judgment. He does not say that it is unlike God to slay the wicked, but rather that it is unlike God to slay “the righteous with the wicked… that the righteous should be as the wicked.” He is essentially reminding God of His own right ways of dealing.
“With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the crooked You will show Yourself shrewd.” Psalm 18:26
In other words, there is a side to God’s character that is different from what He shows to those who love Him. It is part of His holy character all the same, but it is a different means of working than what He would use with those who obey Him.
“They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all his they sinned still, and believed not for His wondrous works. Therefore their days did He consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.” Psalm 78:30-35
God’s judgments are often His means of drawing our hearts back to Him. Sadly, there are times when this is the only way to reach the heart that has been hardened with rebellion.
“The Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.” Isaiah 28:21.
To God, the act of punishment is a strange act. It is an act that He would have never had to perform if sin had never existed. It is not His usual, preferred means of working, but sin is a desperate disease which must be treated with unusual measures.
Is The Death Penalty Wrong?
Many have asserted that the death penalty which God commanded to Israel was not truly a reflection of His character. However, it is only right to allow the word of God to speak for itself on this point. Is the death penalty righteous or unrighteous in the eyes of God? The only way to find out is to read what it says in the Scriptures.
“And surely your blood of your lives will I require: at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” Genesis 9:5-6
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.” Romans 13:1-6
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” I Peter 2:13-14
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16
“He that smites a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. … And he that smites his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:12, 15-17
“You shall not suffer a witch to live. Whoever lies with a beast shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 22:18-19
“If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, which is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, let us go and serve other gods… you shall not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him: but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.” Deuteronomy 13:6, 8-9
“And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: but the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. … And the children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until evening, and asked counsel of Jehovah, saying, shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, go up against him.” Judges 20:12-14, 23
And so, judging from what we have been told in the pages of inspiration, the death penalty appears to be God’s means of dealing with heinous crime. Is it God’s will for man to die? Of course not! “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11. Yet there are crimes for which God has prescribed a penalty, and He has done this for the good and safety of His people. Any earthly government that had no penalty in place for murder and other crimes would soon become a completely unsafe place for its citizens to live.
Here are some more quotes relating to this subject:
“The love of Christ, manifested in unselfish ministry, will be more effective in reforming the evildoer than will the sword or the court of justice. These are necessary to strike terror to the lawbreaker, but the loving missionary can do more than this.” Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, page 350-351
“That the obligations of the Decalogue might be more fully understood and enforced, additional precepts were given, illustrating and applying the principles of the Ten Commandments. These laws were called judgments, both because they were framed in infinite wisdom and equity and because the magistrates were to give judgment according to them. Unlike the Ten Commandments, they were delivered privately to Moses, who was to communicate them to the people. … Manstealing, deliberate murder, and rebellion against parental authority were to be punished with death.” Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, The Law Given to Israel
“The priests of Baal witness with consternation the wonderful revelation of Jehovah’s power. Yet even in their discomfiture and in the presence of divine glory, they refuse to repent of their evil-doing. They would still remain the prophets of Baal. Thus they showed themselves ripe for destruction. That repentant Israel may be protected from the allurements of those who have taught them to worship Baal, Elijah is directed by the Lord to destroy these false teachers.” Ellen White, Prophets and Kings, Carmel
“How carefully God protects the rights of men! He has attached a penalty to wilful murder. ‘Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed’ (Gen. 9:6). If one murderer were permitted to go unpunished, he would by his evil influence and cruel violence subvert others. This would result in a condition of things similar to that which existed before the flood. God must punish murderers. He gives life, and He will take life, if that life becomes a terror and a menace. Mercy shown to a wilful murderer is cruelty to his fellow men. ” Ellen White, Manuscript 126, 1901
“Aaron’s yielding spirit and his desire to please had blinded his eyes to the enormity of the crime he was sanctioning. His course in giving his influence to sin in Israel cost the life of thousands. In what contrast with this was the course of Moses, who, while faithfully executing God’s judgments, showed that the welfare of Israel was dearer to him than prosperity or honor or life.
Of all the sins that God will punish, none are more grievous in His sight than those that encourage others to do evil. God would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking transgression, however painful the act may be. Those who are honored with a divine commission are not to be weak, pliant time-servers. They are not to aim at self-exaltation, or to shun disagreeable duties, but to perform God’s work with unswerving fidelity.
Though God had granted the prayer of Moses in sparing Israel from destruction, their apostasy was to be signally punished. The lawlessness and insubordination into which Aaron had permitted them to fall, if not speedily crushed, would run riot in wickedness, and would involve the nation in irretrievable ruin. By terrible severity the evil must be put away. … In the name of ‘the Lord God of Israel,’ Moses now commanded those upon his right hand, who had kept themselves clear of idolatry, to gird on their swords and slay all who persisted in rebellion. ‘And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.’ Without regard to position, kindred, or friendship, the ringleaders in wickedness were cut off; but all who repented and humbled themselves were spared.
Those who performed this terrible work of judgment were acting by divine authority, executing the sentence of the King of heaven. Men are to beware how they, in their human blindness, judge and condemn their fellow men; but when God commands them to execute His sentence upon iniquity, He is to be obeyed. Those who performed this painful act, thus manifested their abhorrence of rebellion and idolatry, and consecrated themselves more fully to the service of the true God. The Lord honored their faithfulness by bestowing special distinction upon the tribe of Levi. …
That the divine government might be maintained justice must be visited upon the traitors. Yet even here God’s mercy was displayed. While He maintained His law, He granted freedom of choice and opportunity for repentance to all. Only those were cut off who persisted in rebellion.
It was necessary that this sin should be punished, as a testimony to surrounding nations of God’s displeasure against idolatry. By executing justice upon the guilty, Moses, as God’s instrument, must leave on record a solemn and public protest against their crime. As the Israelites should hereafter condemn the idolatry of the neighboring tribes, their enemies would throw back upon them the charge that the people who claimed Jehovah as their God had made a calf and worshiped it in Horeb. Then though compelled to acknowledge the disgraceful truth, Israel could point to the terrible fate of the transgressors, as evidence that their sin had not been sanctioned or excused.
Love no less than justice demanded that for this sin judgment should be inflicted. God is the guardian as well as the sovereign of His people. He cuts off those who are determined upon rebellion, that they may not lead others to ruin. In sparing the life of Cain, God had demonstrated to the universe what would be the result of permitting sin to go unpunished. The influence exerted upon his descendants by his life and teaching led to the state of corruption that demanded the destruction of the whole world by a flood. …
So with the apostasy at Sinai. Unless punishment had been speedily visited upon transgression, the same results would again have been seen. The earth would have become as corrupt as in the days of Noah. Had these transgressors been spared, evils would have followed, greater than resulted from sparing the life of Cain. It was the mercy of God that thousands should suffer, to prevent the necessity of visiting judgments upon millions. In order to save the many, He must punish the few. Furthermore, as the people had cast off their allegiance to God, they had forfeited the divine protection, and, deprived of their defense, the whole nation was exposed to the power of their enemies. Had not the evil been promptly put away, they would soon have fallen a prey to their numerous and powerful foes. It was necessary for the good of Israel, and also as a lesson to all succeeding generations, that crime should be promptly punished. And it was no less a mercy to the sinners themselves that they should be cut short in their evil course. … It was in love to the world, in love to Israel, and even to the transgressors, that crime was punished with swift and terrible severity.” Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Idolatry at Sinai
“Those who would have conquered their enemies in battle were overcome by the wiles of heathen women. The people seemed to be infatuated. … The aged leader was filled with indignation, and the wrath of God was kindled. …
By swift-coming judgments the people were awakened to the enormity of their sin. A terrible pestilence broke out in the camp, to which tens of thousands speedily fell a prey. God commanded that the leaders in this apostasy be put to death by the magistrates. This order was promptly obeyed. The offenders were slain, then their bodies were hung up in sight of all Israel that the congregation, seeing the leaders so severely dealt with, might have a deep sense of God’s abhorrence of their sin and the terror of His wrath against them.
All felt that the punishment was just, and the people hastened to the tabernacle, and with tears and deep humiliation confessed their sin. While they were thus weeping before God, at the door of the tabernacle, while the plague was still doing its work of death, and the magistrates were executing their terrible commission, Zimri, one of the nobles of Israel, came boldly into the camp, accompanied by a Midianitish harlot, a princess ‘of a chief house in Midian,’ whom he escorted to his tent. Never was vice bolder or more stubborn. Inflamed with wine, Zimri declared his ‘sin as Sodom,’ and gloried in his shame. The priests and leaders had prostrated themselves in grief and humiliation, weeping ‘between the porch and the altar,’ and entreating the Lord to spare His people, and give not His heritage to reproach, when this prince in Israel flaunted his sin in the sight of the congregation, as if to defy the vengeance of God and mock the judges of the nation. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, rose up from among the congregation, and seizing a javelin, ‘he went after the man of Israel into the tent,’ and slew them both. Thus the plague was stayed, while the priest who had executed the divine judgment was honored before all Israel, and the priesthood was confirmed to him and to his house forever.
Phinehas ‘hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel,’ was the divine message; ‘wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him My covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for His God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.’” Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostasy at the Jordan
Was it Wrong for God’s People to Go to War With Their Enemies?
Now we will investigate the issue of war. Was it wrong for Israel to go to war with its enemies? This is a difficult question. Our sense of humanity does not agree with the idea of killing one’s enemies. However, we must yield our judgment to the wisdom of Him who knows what is right and cannot err. Let’s see what the Bible says on this subject:
“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all His saints. Praise Jehovah.” Psalm 149:6-9
Notice that this is a description of holy warfare, fought for the glory of God.
“But Jehovah your God shall deliver them unto you, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. And He shall deliver their kings into your hand, and you shall destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before you, until you have destroyed them.” Deuteronomy 7:23-24
In some cases, Israel acted under divine authority in going to war with other nations.
“He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms. … I have pursued my enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For You have girded me with strength unto the battle: You have subdued under me those that rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. … It is God that avenges me, and subdues the people under me.” Psalm 18:34, 37-40, 47
And so it can be seen that there truly have been times in earth’s history when God led His people into war, to punish those who had passed beyond the possibility of repentance. This is surely a painful and unpleasant reality, but nonetheless right and needful in God’s eyes and according to His word.
Here are some more quotes on this subject:
“Abraham, dwelling in peace in the oak groves at Mamre, learned from one of the fugitives the story of the battle and the calamity that had befallen his nephew. He had cherished no unkind memory of Lot’s ingratitude. All his affection for him was awakened, and he determined that he should be rescued. Seeking, first of all, divine counsel, Abraham prepared for war. From his own encampment he summoned three hundred and eighteen trained servants, men trained in the fear of God, in the service of their master, and in the practice of arms. His confederates, Mamre, Eschol, and Aner, joined him with their bands, and together they started in pursuit of the invaders. … His attack, so vigorous and unexpected, resulted in speedy victory. The king of Elam was slain and his panic-stricken forces were utterly routed. Lot and his family, with all the prisoners and their goods, were recovered, and a rich booty fell into the hands of the victors. To Abraham, under God, the triumph was due. The worshiper of Jehovah had not only rendered a great service to the country, but had proved himself a man of valor. It was seen that righteousness is not cowardice, and that Abraham’s religion made him courageous in maintaining the right and defending the oppressed.” Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Abraham in Canaan
“The Lord is regarded as cruel, by many, in requiring his people to make war with other nations. They say that it is contrary to his benevolent character. But he who made the world, and formed man to dwell upon the earth, has unlimited control over all the works of his hands; and it is his right to do as he pleases, and what he pleases, with the work of his hands. Man has no right to say to his Maker, Why doest thou thus? There is no injustice in his character. … God has borne with them until they filled up the measure of their iniquity, and then he has brought upon them swift destruction. He has used his people as instruments of his wrath, to punish wicked nations who have vexed them, and seduced them into idolatry.” Ellen White, The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 1, page 328
“The murderers of Huss did not stand quietly by and witness the triumph of his cause. The pope and the emperor united to crush out the movement, and the armies of Sigismund were hurled upon Bohemia.
But a deliverer was raised up. Ziska, who soon after the opening of the war became totally blind, yet who was one of the ablest generals of his age, was the leader of the Bohemians. Trusting in the help of God and the righteousness of their cause, that people withstood the mightiest armies that could be brought against them. Again and again the emperor, raising fresh armies, invaded Bohemia, only to be ignominiously repulsed. The Hussites were raised above the fear of death, and nothing could stand against them. …
The pope now proclaimed a crusade against the Hussites, and again an immense force was precipitated upon Bohemia, but only to suffer terrible defeat. Another crusade was proclaimed. … The people rallied to repel them. … ‘The crusaders were in greatly superior force, but instead of dashing across the stream, and closing in battle with the Hussites whom they had come so far to meet, they stood gazing in silence at those warriors.’–Wylie, b. 3, ch. 17. Then suddenly a mysterious terror fell upon the host. Without striking a blow, that mighty force broke and scattered as if dispelled by an unseen power. Great numbers were slaughtered by the Hussite army, which pursued the fugitives…
A few years later, under a new pope, still another crusade was set on foot. … The Hussite forces fell back before them, thus drawing the invaders farther and farther into the country, and leading them to count the victory already won. At last the army of Procopius made a stand, and turning upon the foe, advanced to give them battle. … As the sound of the approaching force was heard, even before the Hussites were in sight, a panic again fell upon the crusaders. Princes, generals, and common soldiers, casting away their armor, fled in all directions. In vain the papal legate, who was the leader of the invasion, endeavored to rally his terrified and disorganized forces. Despite his utmost endeavors, he himself was swept along in the tide of fugitives. The rout was complete, and again an immense booty fell into the hands of the victors.
Thus the second time a vast army, sent forth by the most powerful nations of Europe, a host of brave, warlike men, trained and equipped for battle, fled without a blow before the defenders of a small and hitherto feeble nation. Here was a manifestation of divine power. The invaders were smitten with a supernatural terror. He who overthrew the hosts of Pharaoh in the Red Sea, who put to flight the armies of Midian before Gideon and his three hundred, who in one night laid low the forces of the proud Assyrian, had again stretched out His hand to wither the power of the oppressor. ‘There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.’ Psalm 53:5.” Ellen White, The Great Controversy, Huss and Jerome
What Kinds of Things is God Angry About?
Now let’s take a look at some of the things that God feels angry about and which He deems deserving of punishment, so that we can understand more about His character.
“He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36
God feels anger about unbelief and rejection of eternal life in Christ.
“But whoso shall cause one of these little ones to stumble which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6
God feels anger about His children being led astray and caused to stumble.
“For I was hungry, and you gave Me no meat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me not in: naked, and you clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited Me not. … Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:42-46
God feels anger about the neglect of the poor and needy.
“But God said unto him, fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided? So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21
God feels anger about selfishness, greed and ingratitude.
“They provoked Him to anger with strange gods, with abominations they provoked Him to anger.” Deuteronomy 32:16
God feels anger about idolatry and false systems of worship.
“Should we again break Your commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? Would You not be angry with us till You had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?” Ezra 9:14
God feels angry when His people bind themselves together with the wicked.
“Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” Ezekiel 16:49-50
God feels angry about pride, selfishness, neglect of the needy and corrupt practices.
“In you have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of you have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in you have they vexed the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things, and have profaned My sabbaths. In you are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in you they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of you they commit lewdness. In you have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in you have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution. And one has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. In you have they taken gifts to shed blood; you have taken usury and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me, says Jehovah God.” Ezekiel 22:7-12
God feels angry about gross acts of immorality, irreverence to authority, indifference to His holy convocations, neglect of the helpless, and economic injustice.
“But after your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds… unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, trouble and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil…” Romans 2:5-9
God feels angry when we are hard-hearted and refuse to repent.
“For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:5-6
God feels angry about gross immorality and covetousness.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. … But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” Colossians 3:5-6, 8
God feels angry when we use our affections in a selfish, unholy way, and when we are lustful and immoral.
“…of how much sorer punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29
God feels angry when we neglect and abuse His mercies.
“Therefore Jehovah heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation.” Psalm 78:21-22
And God feels angry because of unbelief and distrust of Him.
God’s Children Do Not Need to Be Afraid of Him
Now that we have made a thorough study of the part of God’s character which responds to sin and wickedness, it is important to understand that God’s anger and justice will not harm those who love Him. God is angry with the things which we listed in the above section—injustice, wrongdoing, unbelief, apostasy, and abuse of our own selves. These are things which are harmful and rightfully elicit an emotional response from a God of love. Yet anger is not to be represented as the most prominent feature of His character. God is much more concerned with drawing us to Himself and helping us than He is with punishing us for our sins. Wrath and punishment are for the impenitent, not for the honest and truth-seeking.
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:17-18
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
“Fear not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
“Jehovah is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Jehovah is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:8-9
“Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:9
In This Present World 